Frogmore Cottage was the first home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they married
More than six years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle departed their Windsor estate residence, Frogmore Cottage appears set for another transformation.
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took up residence in the property, a wedding present from the late Queen, it was converted from multiple dwellings into a single home, with Harry and Meghan investing £2.4 million in the refurbishment.
The transformation took nearly 12 months and included the creation of a yoga studio, new ceiling beams and floor joists, complete electrical rewiring, and installation of new gas and water mains.
However, those modifications are now reportedly being undone, with the property reportedly reverting to multiple residences. A source claimed it would “draw the line” under the house’s past and restore it to its “pre-Harry and Meghan era.”
Speculation has emerged that reversing the renovations might represent the final erasure of Harry and Meghan’s presence from royal life, though former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond says that could be overthinking it.
Jennie told the Mirror: “If these reports are true, I don’t think it should be taken as some sort of vindictive move against Harry and Meghan. The Crown Estate is run as a commercial enterprise with the profits going to the Treasury.
“If the best commercial decision is to make further alterations to Frogmore Cottage, then so be it. However, it does, on the face of it, seem absurd that a recently renovated house cannot be rented out as is.”
She continued: “Obviously there are security considerations in renting out a property so close to Windsor Castle, but arrangements like this are not impossible. And I think the optics of more money being spent on the cottage are quite damaging.”
Certain royal commentators have also suggested that the Frogmore renovations could mean Harry and Meghan won’t ever return to the UK. That said, should the Duke and Duchess make the trip across the pond, it would be highly unlikely they would seek accommodation within the Royal Family’s grounds.
Jennie says that although it was Harry and Meghan’s first home as a married couple, they’re unlikely to remember it fondly.
“Harry and Meghan have made their life in California,” the royal expert explained. “I can’t imagine that Frogmore Cottage holds many good memories for them – particularly after they were pressured into paying back the £2.4 million spent on the renovations they wanted.
“But they have drawn a line under that part of their life. If they do ever come back to visit the UK it will presumably be because they have made peace with the King – and could therefore stay in one of the royal residences – or, if things are still strained, they could opt for a hotel, as Harry has in the past.
“And, of course, he still has his mother’s siblings: Aunts Jane and Sarah and his Uncle Charles who have maintained a good relationship with him through all the years of turmoil and bitterness.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk ’
